UNIVERSITY HTS., Ohio – The College of Wooster women's lacrosse team's offense was in sync early, hanging six first-period goals on host John Carroll University, while a 4-0 third-period run separated the Fighting Scots from the Blue Streaks during Tuesday night's 16-10 win at Don Shula Stadium.
Wooster (2-0) capitalized on a near-immediate yellow card on John Carroll's (0-2) Kathleen Cagney at the onset. Bella Woodbury hit the player-up goal for the sophomore's first score of the year. However, John Carroll answered Wooster's early momentum with three straight goals before junior Kaitlyn McBride buried the go-ahead free-position shot at the first stanza's 3:45 mark. Quick strikes by senior Kenzie Smith and sophomore Brynne Snaguski, plus senior Ciara O'Connor's first goal of the game, saw Wooster grab a 7-3 lead seconds into quarter two.
After halftime, junior Kenzie Morris pulled within a goal of the team lead on the young season with consecutive scores. Woodbury hit for the second time of the night to make it a 12-7 game, then Wooster added another goal from sophomore Sophia Mellis following a draw control win by sophomore Sidney O'Rourke.
Draw controls again helped keep John Carroll at bay down the stretch. McBride's win with 9:55 remaining set up a key possession, during which Morris' team-leading fourth goal of the night made it a 14-10 advantage. Wooster converted on player-up scores from O'Connor and Smith down the stretch, with Smith's score making the senior the first to hit 10 goals for the year.
Defensively, the third quarter was Wooster's strongest showing. The Scots held the Blue Streaks scoreless over the final 12:34 of the period and seven of eight John Carroll possessions ultimately ended in turnovers. Sophomore Lizzie Hardy forced the ball away from Olivia Hanulak and Vivian Rung, while two of junior Ashley Reynolds' five saves came during the strong third period.
Morris' four goals were followed by Smith's and O'Connor's three. McBride led all players with a five-point night, thanks to three assists and two goals. McBride emerged as the groundball leader with five, O'Rourke was the top defender with three caused turnovers, and Hardy tracked down seven of Wooster's 19 draw controls.
John Carroll was led by Hanulak. She had five draw controls, two goals, two assists, and a caused turnover.
Wooster outshot John Carroll 31-24, while the Blue Streaks had 22 groundballs to the Scots' 15. Wooster went 17-for-20 on clears, compared to a 20-for-24 showing by John Carroll.
Next, Wooster hosts Marietta College (2-0) at noon on Saturday, March 2. The game is the program's Morgan's Message awareness game.
Photo courtesy of John Carroll Sports Information